Article Shows NFL's Influence On Madden's Features

A new article details some of the previously unknown ways in which the NFL influence the content of EA Sports' Madden franchise.

The article, published on Sports Illustrated Extra Mustard, details eight features that the NFL had EA Sports remove from Madden. These include excessive celebrations, on-field ambulances, and "dynamic attendance." The latter was a feature in Madden 11 which simulated real-world game attendance levels - including the traditionally poor crowds at Jacksonville Jaguars games. In the virtual NFL, every seat in the house must be packed.

Our Take:Given the power the NFL holds over every aspect of its brand, it's no surprise that Roger Goodell and company are equally uptight about Madden. Still, it's funny that the Jaguars' inability to draw a crowd became an issue in both real and virtual football.

Madden is terrible. I wish there wasn't a monopoly on the nfl brand. Little competition would actually make the game better instead of the same copy n paste cr** they been putting out. Bought the other day and could barely finish a game. Terrible. Wish they would bring back NCAA because that was at least playable and enjoyable.

As much as I wasn't really a fan of Madden after 2007, when I got my hands on Madden 25 I was pleasantly surprised to find how much I enjoyed the game. It is a business after all and the NFL seem to be coming to terms with what they need to do in order to be successful in video games and even though it contradicts their motto, it's a great move for them.
After all, they do hold the license so inevitably what they say goes. Now if only the NCAA could figure things out and give us a college game again the world would spin perfectly.

I always wondered what happened to the Dynamic Attendance feature that was in Madden 11. Quite interesting to see just how the NFL's massive influence on what can or can not be used in each Madden game with each new release from EA Sports.

This pretty much cements why EA has had the exclusive license for the NFL. They have been willing to be the NFLs lapdogs and do whatever they say so they got the deal. This is just ridiculous and shows even more reasons why I've been becoming less and less interested in the NFL because of how they run it.